Novak Djokovic gives praise to Andy Murray after US Open victory

Novak Djokovic was in no doubt. The subdued Serb, hurt to have lost his US
Open title after 4 hr 54 min of punishing baseline tennis, believed that
Andy Murray’s victory flowed directly from the Scot’s coronation as Olympic
champion in London.

Class act: Novak Djokovic congratulates Andy Murray following the US Open finalPhoto: EPA

“Looking at it from the side, it definitely changed his attitude towards the big matches,” the world No2 said.

Few possess such insight into the Murray psyche as Djokovic, who was born just seven days after his rival in May 1987, and who has remained a reliable confidant and adversary ever since they plied the junior circuit together.

He suffered defeat in the Olympic semi-finals at the hands of his close contemporary, and was struck by the inner conviction that his fellow 25 year-old gleaned from a subsequent straight-sets demolition of Roger Federer in the final.

“With a lot of expectation on him in his country, he won a gold medal and performed in a very impressive way in that final,” Djokovic said. “It must have been a great confidence boost for him.”

It was an analysis with which Murray, whose glory in the Olympic singles was enhanced with a silver alongside Laura Robson in the mixed doubles, agreed. But he contrasted the serenity he had felt at the Games with the uncertainty he still harboured before his first grand slam triumph.

“At the Olympics there was so much going on, with all of the other sports, and everyone was doing really well – the team had a lot of momentum, and I also had the mixed doubles to focus on,” Murray explained.

“When I knew that I was guaranteed at least two silver medals, that obviously helped me going into the final. The Olympics was huge for me. It was the biggest week of my life, for sure. But here I still doubted myself. Right up to a few minutes before I went on court, I was thinking, ‘Am I going to be able to do this?’ A match against Novak was always going to hurt – physically, it was challenging.”

This was an understatement of the two men’s supreme powers of endurance, but Djokovic was also generous in praising Murray’s greater mental fortitude, adding that such a quality underpinned his own breakthrough in winning five slams over the past four years. “In my case, it was just a matter of belief,” he argued.

“Mentally you have to mature, and to understand what you must do become a grand slam champion and the best in the world. Andy has all the capacity he needs, all the talent on the court. He’s dedicated, he’s professional, he has proven that over the years in his results.

“He has made a couple of technical adjustments in his game – maybe he goes for the forehand more than he used to – but the difference was mainly mental, in the end.

“The last couple of years, and the four defeats in grand slam finals, were a necessary experience for him to understand what he needed to do to be in the position he is today. It was a similar position for me a couple of years ago, and he has done it.”

Asked if he was pleased to see Murray join himself, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal among tennis’s great champions of this era, Djokovic replied: “Absolutely, it’s great. There is no question that he deserved to win a slam, playing so consistently against the top players on all the different surfaces.”

Of the two stars in an unforgettable final at Flushing Meadows, Djokovic was plainly the one in greater physical distress once the match passed the four-hour mark, and he was forced to summon his trainer to deal with the onset of cramp. But he refused to blame his collapse in the fifth set, which he lost 6-2, upon his exhaustion.

“We both did a lot of running,” he said. “It was just unfortunate not to be able to come up with big shots at the right time. It forced me to go for winners, and instead I made a lot of mistakes. I lost the crucial break at 4-2 down and after that it was a routine hold for him. But it’s a grand slam final and you want to win. There’s no reason to say, ‘What if? What if?’ Andy is a grand slam winner and he deserves to be there.”

Djokovic treated Murray with his customary grace, even coming around the net at the end of the match to congratulate him. He reflected: “Any loss is a bad loss, but in the back of my mind, I know that I gave it my all. I just came up against a great opponent, one of the best players in the men’s game in the last four few years. After four losses, now he has won. I’m definitely happy for him.”